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The Christmas and Epiphany seasons in the church year are excellent times to remember the Synod’s efforts to share the Incarnation, Nativity, Epiphany, Baptism, Death, Resurrection, Ascension of Jesus (see “The Litany” from LSB pg. 288) with the entire world. The 140 Synod International Missionaries (career and GEO missionaries) share the Gospel with those who haven’t heard it before and work to strengthen Lutheran churches where they serve. Please remember them in your prayers.
January 2015 marks the Synod’s Mission Emphasis. The link to the Synod’s emphasis on International Mission includes link to bulletin inserts and other resources (including prayer cards for LCMS missionaries) that can be used by Districts or congregations to increase awareness of international mission . . . Read All

The Gospel for New Year’s Day, the “Name of Jesus,” is very simple: “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).
That’s all. Eight days after his birth (which we celebrated December 25th), he was circumcised and given the name Jesus.
Yeshua = “the Lord saves” – “for he will save his people from their sins,” the angel had told Joseph in dream (Matthew 1:21).
So we begin the new year 2015 in the name of Jesus, as the church observes on January 1.
Whatever the new year brings, Jesus has it covered. Whatever happens to us, we . . . Read All

On Christmas Eve, not only did Perry Noble claim that the Hebrew language has no word for "command" (see this episode of F4F to hear and see this debunked), Perry Noble also dropped the N-word. But, what burns my cookies…

On December 14, partner church body the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia combined the celebration of the 20th anniversary of one of their congregations with the ordination of a new deacon who will serve in Saratov, Russia.(More)

Another Lutheran has swum the Tiber. Russ Saltzman, erstwhile Lutheran Pastor and commentator, has signaled his intention to be received into the Roman Catholic Church, with his wife Dianne. In the end, when Lutheran pastors leave Lutheranism, it is seldom to find something less but the something more the Lutheran Confessions expect but one sees all too infrequently among the parishes and jurisdictions of Lutheran bodies — namely, evangelical catholicity.
Evangelical catholicity, as I said on another forum, is summed up best in the Augustana itself: “That in doctrine and ceremonies nothing has been received on our part against Scripture or the Church Catholic.” Evangelical catholicity is doctrinal and liturgical – not a choice between them. Missouri often seems to. . . Read All

In 1978 I was awaiting the second most important news of my career — where I would serve my vicarage (3rd year internship from seminary for all you who don’t know the lingo). As I watched the procession of District Presidents into Kramer Chapel, I watched in horror at the sight of gaudy sport jackets, wild ties, and leisure suits. . . and then one guy in a three piece gray suit with a full clerical collar. He had a beard and long hair and I knew nothing of him (he was a very new District President) but prayed he would be the bishop of the district where I would serve. In an odd turn of fate, he was. His. . . Read All

One of my long-time customs leading up to New Year’s is to read Dave Barry’s annual year in review. I like the month-by-month survey of what happened in the previous year. And that his commentary is hilarious. Just read the whole thing: Dave Barry’s Year in Review 2014 | The Miami Herald.
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The war in Afghanistan officially ended on Sunday. It lasted 13 years, the longest armed conflict in American history. The number of American and NATO soldiers killed was some 3,500. Once again, the United States ends a costly war far short of victory. In fact, the Taliban is claiming victory. Are they pretty much right? [Read More…]
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Why do Americans say “merry Christmas,” while the British and denizens of its Commonwealth say “happy Christmas”? Those who Googled that question were directed to this post, which was written for Christmas of 2013: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Christmas. This post was number 3 for most of the year, but for the last few weeks, [Read More…]
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And the children of Israel said unto the Lord: “We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.” (Judges 10:15) But after that the kindness and love of God … Continue reading →. . . Read All

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 58:1-59:3, 14-21; Luke 1:26-38
“I believe that Jesus Christ…is my Lord, who has redeemed me, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil not with gold and silver but with His holy precious …

Dear WE:
I am taking an introductory Hebrew course. The first chapter teaches vocabulary and grammar using Genesis 1. I learned that in Hebrew, the word “spirit” can be either feminine or masculine. In Genesis 1:2, “Spirit” is a feminine noun and the associated verb “hovered” is conjugated in the feminine form. What does this mean? Is there any commentary on this by church fathers or Lutheran theologians?
Thanks, J.
J:
Great question!
Quite often the gender of a word in Hebrew has absolutely nothing to do with whether the thing is actually male or female. Participles and verbs in general must agree with their subject in gender of the word (which again, does not necessarily have anything to do
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December 28, 2014
Sermon Text — Matthew 2:13-23
Audio —
http://steadfastlutherans.org/clips/sikora/Dr._Sikora,_12-28-14.m4a
Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! AMEN! Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Matthew the second chapter.
That it Might Be Fulfilled – Out of Egypt
Beloved in the Lord,
This morning, our infant Savior embarks upon another journey. Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head for long. Their stay in Bethlehem is short one.
Persian treasures have been laid at His feet. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, sacred gifts for the holy child, ornament the . . . Read All

1st Sunday after Christmas
St. Peter Lutheran Church
St. Luke 2:33-40
December 28, 2014
Falling and Rising
Iesu Iuva
Christmas ends far too quickly. We have just a day and a night to celebrate together the coming of God in human flesh. That is too short. We must stay with the incarnation of our Lord a little longer. It is the wellspring of all joy. For God has not left us in the dust of our corruption, sin, and death. He has joined us in our human nature and united our nature to God’s nature forever.
In the Gospel reading Joseph and Mary are still marveling at Jesus, even though at least a month has gone by since His . . . Read All

Questions exist over the date and other details of the first Christmas.The main details of the account of the birth of Jesus, from the manger to the Star of Bethlehem, show up in Christmas pageants and storefront windows everywhere. But are they true? …

For Martin Luther, God’s action in creation, redemption, sanctification, justification, and prayer are inseparably tied together. Albrecht Peters’ Commentary on Luther’s Catechisms: Creed shows the development of Luther’s thoughts on the persons of the Trinity and their work and provides the needed context for Luther’s interpretation within that of the Western tradition.
The following excerpt explores Luther’s thoughts on the First Article of the Creed and the character of the creating and preserving nature of God the Father.
Since Luther is virtually fascinated when reflecting on the mystery of life, he cannot follow the ancient scholastic intellectual tradition and view the creaturely world as a scenario that has a relatively independent existence over against the creator and that is determined
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So the Pope gathered the Curia and wished them a Merry Christmas. . . except there was little that was merry in his address. According to Francis, the Curia, like the Church, cannot live ‘without having a vital, personal, authentic and solid relationship with Christ. And a member of the Curia who does not draw from that every day will become a mere bureaucrat. He added that we will talk about the list of diseases which, following the Fathers of the desert, will aid us in preparing for confession.
The disease of feeling ‘immortal’ or ‘essential’‘A curia that does not practice self-criticism, does not keep up to date, does not try to better itself, is an . . . Read All

As is our custom here at the Cranach blog, we will devote the days up to and including New Year’s Eve looking back on the year that is ending. Then, starting New Year’s Day, we will look ahead to the year that is beginning. The high points will be on December 31 when we will [Read More…]
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The Associated Press released results of its poll of news directors and editors on what they considered to be the top ten news stories of 2014. The winner: The police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and the consequent protests. This beat out Ebola and the rise of ISIS, which were #2 and #3, [Read More…]
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